Govt talks tough on hide collection
Interior ministry says it’s keeping an eye on banned groups.
ISLAMABAD:
The interior ministry has banned collection of animal hides not only on Eidul Azha, but also on all other religious festivals.
“The government would act against banned outfits or any other group found involved in collecting animal hides by force,” said a spokesperson of the interior ministry.
“All law enforcement agencies will remain on high alert to stop this practice on Eid-ul-Azha,” the spokesperson added while talking to The Express Tribune.
The government’s strategy to keep a check on the banned outfits from collecting hides comes under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NCTA), the spokesperson said.
Keeping an eye
The authority has already informed all provinces to check banned outfits from collecting hides.
A special team of the interior ministry will closely watch around 49 organisations banned by the federal government and the United Nations, the spokesperson added.
“If someone arrested collecting hides forcibly, they will be booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” he said.
What laws?
Not everyone at the ministry is on the same page though.
Deputy Secretary Interior, Muhammad Yaqoob Awan, said he did not know any specific law to act against forced collection of animal hides on religious festivals.
“I don’t have any such knowledge about laws dealing with hide collection,” he told The Express Tribune.
Security measures
‘Meanwhile, interior ministry officials told The Express Tribune that strict security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward situation on Eid. Special security measures have been taken in Gilgit-Baltistan and the tribal areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2012.
The interior ministry has banned collection of animal hides not only on Eidul Azha, but also on all other religious festivals.
“The government would act against banned outfits or any other group found involved in collecting animal hides by force,” said a spokesperson of the interior ministry.
“All law enforcement agencies will remain on high alert to stop this practice on Eid-ul-Azha,” the spokesperson added while talking to The Express Tribune.
The government’s strategy to keep a check on the banned outfits from collecting hides comes under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NCTA), the spokesperson said.
Keeping an eye
The authority has already informed all provinces to check banned outfits from collecting hides.
A special team of the interior ministry will closely watch around 49 organisations banned by the federal government and the United Nations, the spokesperson added.
“If someone arrested collecting hides forcibly, they will be booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” he said.
What laws?
Not everyone at the ministry is on the same page though.
Deputy Secretary Interior, Muhammad Yaqoob Awan, said he did not know any specific law to act against forced collection of animal hides on religious festivals.
“I don’t have any such knowledge about laws dealing with hide collection,” he told The Express Tribune.
Security measures
‘Meanwhile, interior ministry officials told The Express Tribune that strict security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward situation on Eid. Special security measures have been taken in Gilgit-Baltistan and the tribal areas.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2012.